Shelby Center for Science and Technology

Shelby Center for Science and Technology is a major academic and research facility at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. Named for longtime United States Senator Richard Shelby and his wife Annette N. Shelby, the center was designed to consolidate and modernize the university's science and engineering instruction. It serves as a central hub for interdisciplinary education, fostering collaboration between students and faculty across numerous scientific disciplines.

History and construction

The project was championed by Richard Shelby, who secured critical federal funding through his role on the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations. Planning commenced in the early 2000s under the administration of Auburn University President Ed Richardson. The architectural firm Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood led the design, with construction managed by Brasfield & Gorrie. The facility officially opened in 2008, coinciding with a period of significant growth for the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering and the College of Sciences and Mathematics. Its creation was part of a broader campus initiative to replace aging infrastructure like Parker Hall and Allison Laboratory, providing state-of-the-art spaces for STEM education.

Architecture and facilities

The structure features a modern, four-story design with extensive use of glass and brick, integrating with the historic Auburn University campus master plan. Key facilities include the J. W. Goodwin atrium, numerous technology-enhanced lecture halls, and over 100 teaching and research laboratories. The building houses specialized instrumentation such as scanning electron microscopes, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers, and a cleanroom for nanofabrication. It also contains the Charles D. McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security, dedicated to research in national security and cyber defense.

Academic departments and programs

The center is the primary home for the Department of Physics and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry within the College of Sciences and Mathematics. It also supports major programs from the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, including biomedical engineering, materials engineering, and significant portions of mechanical engineering curricula. The building facilitates interdisciplinary degrees and hosts the university's Pre-Health Advising Office, which guides students pursuing careers in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine.

Research and laboratories

Research activity is concentrated in areas like alternative energy, advanced materials, pharmaceutical sciences, and environmental chemistry. The center contains the Alabama Microelectronics Science and Technology Center, which collaborates with entities like the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and the United States Department of Defense. Other notable labs include the Center for Polymer and Advanced Composites and facilities affiliated with the National Science Foundation REU program. Faculty researchers regularly publish in journals such as *Science* and *Nature* and secure grants from agencies like the National Institutes of Health.

Campus role and student life

The building functions as a daily crossroads for thousands of students from the College of Sciences and Mathematics and the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. It features collaborative study spaces, undergraduate research offices for programs like the Honors College, and hosts events for organizations such as the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and Society of Physics Students. Its central location near Haley Center and the Ralph Brown Draughon Library makes it a pivotal node in campus academic life, supporting initiatives like Engineering Week and outreach programs with Auburn City Schools.

Category:Auburn University Category:University and college buildings in Alabama Category:Science and technology in the United States